socialization/coop preschool
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We attended a co-op preschool partially sponsored by the child
development program at a local vocational school. A woman from the voc
school was always there, and three parents stayed each class (we
rotated). Parents were always allowed to stay, even if it wasn't their
turn. One parent was assigned to each of the three rooms: large motor
skills and reading corner; art and science; dress-up and blocks/puzzles.
We had circle time at the beginning for about 10 minutes. Then the
children were allowed to spend their time however they wished. No child
was ever forced to do anything (except circle and snack). For instance,
a child might do nothing but play with blocks week after week. Then we
had a snack and final circle time.
So I liked the fact that parents were always welcome and for the bulk of
the class the kids got to choose what to do. There were a few moms who
came every week, and a few who couldn't wait until their turn to drop off
and leave. The kids varied in this way too. Some were very clingy and
others ignored their mom the minute they entered the class.
During this year I had my second child and we moved to a different town.
I did not do any preschool the following year because it didn't make
sense to hire a babysitter for the younger child in order to participate
in a co-op with the first child. And the first child was NOT interested
in being dropped off somewhere without me.
Are preschool/unschool compatible? I think it depends on your situation.
It may not be much different from any other "class" an unschooling child
might take. If I'd had only one child, I may have continued in the co-op
experience, as long as it was serving our needs. Preschool is certainly
not necessary! Young children can learn everything they need hanging out
at home just as well as at a preschool.
There are some homeschoolers around here who do various co-op activities
with their older children too. A book called "Playful Learning" tells
you how to set up a co-op preschool and is full of activities that are
fun and educational. (of course, we all know that everything is
educational!) Some families find that a small co-op (3-5 families)
rotating in each others homes serves needs as well as a larger more
formal program.
A side note: our next door neighbor's youngest child is same age as my
oldest (they were 3 when we moved here). I asked her one day if her
daughter would be going to preschool next year. She said "No, and I am
tired of people asking me that". I told her I was glad to finally meet
someone else who wasn't going to preschool, because we weren't either.
It was during this time that I was meeting more homeschoolers. Also, in
my old town I was doing a lot of parenting things like everyone else bc I
went with the flow and didn't really think about options. Moving to a
new town gave me the opportunity to find out what I wanted to do with my
family. (I'm still learning, of course!)
Mary Ellen
One can never have too many buttons.
Laurella Lederer
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development program at a local vocational school. A woman from the voc
school was always there, and three parents stayed each class (we
rotated). Parents were always allowed to stay, even if it wasn't their
turn. One parent was assigned to each of the three rooms: large motor
skills and reading corner; art and science; dress-up and blocks/puzzles.
We had circle time at the beginning for about 10 minutes. Then the
children were allowed to spend their time however they wished. No child
was ever forced to do anything (except circle and snack). For instance,
a child might do nothing but play with blocks week after week. Then we
had a snack and final circle time.
So I liked the fact that parents were always welcome and for the bulk of
the class the kids got to choose what to do. There were a few moms who
came every week, and a few who couldn't wait until their turn to drop off
and leave. The kids varied in this way too. Some were very clingy and
others ignored their mom the minute they entered the class.
During this year I had my second child and we moved to a different town.
I did not do any preschool the following year because it didn't make
sense to hire a babysitter for the younger child in order to participate
in a co-op with the first child. And the first child was NOT interested
in being dropped off somewhere without me.
Are preschool/unschool compatible? I think it depends on your situation.
It may not be much different from any other "class" an unschooling child
might take. If I'd had only one child, I may have continued in the co-op
experience, as long as it was serving our needs. Preschool is certainly
not necessary! Young children can learn everything they need hanging out
at home just as well as at a preschool.
There are some homeschoolers around here who do various co-op activities
with their older children too. A book called "Playful Learning" tells
you how to set up a co-op preschool and is full of activities that are
fun and educational. (of course, we all know that everything is
educational!) Some families find that a small co-op (3-5 families)
rotating in each others homes serves needs as well as a larger more
formal program.
A side note: our next door neighbor's youngest child is same age as my
oldest (they were 3 when we moved here). I asked her one day if her
daughter would be going to preschool next year. She said "No, and I am
tired of people asking me that". I told her I was glad to finally meet
someone else who wasn't going to preschool, because we weren't either.
It was during this time that I was meeting more homeschoolers. Also, in
my old town I was doing a lot of parenting things like everyone else bc I
went with the flow and didn't really think about options. Moving to a
new town gave me the opportunity to find out what I wanted to do with my
family. (I'm still learning, of course!)
Mary Ellen
One can never have too many buttons.
Laurella Lederer
________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.
Debra Bures
We stopped going to library storytimes--we can sit at home and read
interesting books and do projects. when the kids were little we had lots of
play dates and playgroups. Kids played, moms chatted. it worked for us
Debra (who has always had a tendency to dislike organized activities where
someone teels me what to do)
interesting books and do projects. when the kids were little we had lots of
play dates and playgroups. Kids played, moms chatted. it worked for us
Debra (who has always had a tendency to dislike organized activities where
someone teels me what to do)
----- Original Message -----
From: <megates@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 12:32 PM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] socialization/coop preschool
> From: megates@...
>
> We attended a co-op preschool partially sponsored by the child
> development program at a local vocational school. A woman from the voc
> school was always there, and three parents stayed each class (we
> rotated). Parents were always allowed to stay, even if it wasn't their
> turn. One parent was assigned to each of the three rooms: large motor
> skills and reading corner; art and science; dress-up and blocks/puzzles.
> We had circle time at the beginning for about 10 minutes. Then the
> children were allowed to spend their time however they wished. No child
> was ever forced to do anything (except circle and snack). For instance,
> a child might do nothing but play with blocks week after week. Then we
> had a snack and final circle time.
>
> So I liked the fact that parents were always welcome and for the bulk of
> the class the kids got to choose what to do. There were a few moms who
> came every week, and a few who couldn't wait until their turn to drop off
> and leave. The kids varied in this way too. Some were very clingy and
> others ignored their mom the minute they entered the class.
>
> During this year I had my second child and we moved to a different town.
> I did not do any preschool the following year because it didn't make
> sense to hire a babysitter for the younger child in order to participate
> in a co-op with the first child. And the first child was NOT interested
> in being dropped off somewhere without me.
>
> Are preschool/unschool compatible? I think it depends on your situation.
> It may not be much different from any other "class" an unschooling child
> might take. If I'd had only one child, I may have continued in the co-op
> experience, as long as it was serving our needs. Preschool is certainly
> not necessary! Young children can learn everything they need hanging out
> at home just as well as at a preschool.
>
> There are some homeschoolers around here who do various co-op activities
> with their older children too. A book called "Playful Learning" tells
> you how to set up a co-op preschool and is full of activities that are
> fun and educational. (of course, we all know that everything is
> educational!) Some families find that a small co-op (3-5 families)
> rotating in each others homes serves needs as well as a larger more
> formal program.
>
> A side note: our next door neighbor's youngest child is same age as my
> oldest (they were 3 when we moved here). I asked her one day if her
> daughter would be going to preschool next year. She said "No, and I am
> tired of people asking me that". I told her I was glad to finally meet
> someone else who wasn't going to preschool, because we weren't either.
> It was during this time that I was meeting more homeschoolers. Also, in
> my old town I was doing a lot of parenting things like everyone else bc I
> went with the flow and didn't really think about options. Moving to a
> new town gave me the opportunity to find out what I wanted to do with my
> family. (I'm still learning, of course!)
>
> Mary Ellen
> One can never have too many buttons.
> Laurella Lederer
>
> ________________________________________________________________
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> Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
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